In this milestone 20th episode of Bird Camp Radio, we sit down with Jackson Facer from Preston, Idaho: a young handler who has fully immersed his life in bird dogs and upland hunting.

What started as a high school hobby has grown into a full-blown lifestyle. Over the past four years, Jackson has dedicated himself to personally training and handling bird dogs, competing in hunt tests and field trials, and helping friends develop their own dogs along the way. He also guides professionally at a hunt club, passing on his knowledge to others who share the same passion for chasing birds behind good dogs.

From September through February, Jackson is rarely out of the field. Whether he’s training, competing, guiding, or simply enjoying long days afield with his dogs, his commitment to the tradition, discipline, and community of bird hunting is clear.

This episode dives into what it takes to truly live the bird dog life: balancing seasons, dogs, competition, and the relentless drive to get better every day. If you love upland hunting and the people who keep it alive, Episode 20 is one you won’t want to miss.

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In Episode 19 of Bird Camp Radio, I sit down with Matt Middlebrooks: host of The Check-In Station Podcast and a hunter who represents what most of us really are: everyday guys who just love being outside.

Matt grew up chasing deer and turkey in Tennessee, with a few duck hunts mixed in along the way. Life moved him around before he eventually settled in Illinois, where he continued pursuing the game he grew up with. But just two years ago, everything changed.

A late-season pheasant hunt in brutal conditions, wind chill sitting around -4 degrees, lit the fire. By noon, they had limited out. More importantly, a new passion was born. Since then, Matt has dove headfirst into upland hunting, building friendships, making annual trips to South Dakota, and collecting the kind of stories that only bird camp can produce… including the now-legendary tale of “Lieutenant Hen.”

Matt is a strong advocate for ethical and legal hunting, and he believes the value of a hunt isn’t measured in inches of antler or what ends up on the wall. As he puts it, next year’s trophy will taste just as good this year. That mindset carries through both his own hunting journey and his podcast, where he gives everyday hunters and anglers a place to tell their stories: the good shots, the missed shots, and everything in between.

This episode is about tradition, camaraderie, new beginnings in the uplands, and why the memories made in the field matter more than any mount ever could.

Pull up a chair. Bird camp’s in session.

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This special episode of Bird Camp Radio is a little different than our usual campfire talk. I’m joined by my dad to break down a Texas hog hunt that didn’t go according to plan - not even close.

What was advertised as a three-day, semi-guided hog hunt quickly unraveled into a roughly ten-hour ordeal marked by an unresponsive and unreliable guide, poor communication, and conditions that pushed us far past “just a bad hunt.” My brother, my dad, and I traveled to Texas expecting an adventure. What we got instead was a hard lesson in preparation, expectations, and knowing when things don’t feel right.

During the hunt, weather, lack of guidance, and exhaustion compounded into a situation that nearly turned dangerous, including a serious brush with hypothermia. In this episode, my dad and I walk through exactly what happened: from the first red flags to the moment we realized we were in trouble, and what we took away from the experience.

This isn’t about trashing anyone. It’s about honesty, accountability, and sharing a story that other hunters can learn from. Not every hunt ends with a grip-and-grin, and not every outfitter delivers what’s promised. Sometimes the best lessons come from the hunts that go sideways.

If you’ve ever booked a guided hunt, trusted someone else with your safety, or just want a reminder that the outdoors demands respect, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Bird Camp Radio, we sit down with Emanuel Rose: author, outdoorsman, and longtime marketing strategist whose life and work are deeply shaped by time spent in wild places.

From towering forests and open trails to the steady rhythm of the ocean, Emanuel shares how nature has become both a teacher and a creative compass. We explore how those experiences inspired his children’s book series Wenaha Henry and reflective works like Nature Bound and One Man, One Dog, stories rooted in presence, companionship, and the quiet lessons the wild offers those willing to listen.

Beyond writing, Emanuel opens up about the role meditation and personal growth play in his life, and how those practices help him stay grounded, creative, and clear: both in the field and in business. With over 30 years of experience helping companies grow through smarter marketing and clearer messaging, Emanuel brings a rare perspective that blends outdoor wisdom with leadership, creativity, and intention.

This conversation is thoughtful, grounded, and honest. One that reminds us why we head into the field in the first place, and what the wild continues to teach us long after the hunt ends.

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On Episode 17 of the Bird Camp Radio Podcast, we sit down with Dominic Bachman of Bachman Bay Kennels in Utah to talk bird dogs, birds, and a lifetime shaped by hunting and wildlife biology.

Raised in a family deeply rooted in the outdoors, Dominic grew up chasing birds across the marshes and uplands of northern Utah alongside his father, Val Bachman, a longtime game warden and wildlife biologist. That foundation led Dominic to a decades-long passion for bird dogs, particularly German Wirehaired Pointers bred to be hard-charging in the field, steady in the home, and proven through hunt tests.

We dig into Bachman Bay Kennels’ breeding philosophy, their success in NAVHDA, and what it takes to produce versatile dogs capable of competing at the highest levels of hunt tests and field trials. Dominic also shares how his dogs have played a role beyond hunting, assisting with wildlife research projects like sage grouse and sharptail lek studies, waterfowl banding, and sandhill crane monitoring.

This episode is a deep dive into purposeful breeding, testing dogs the right way, and maintaining a strong connection to birds, habitat, and the traditions that keep upland hunting alive. If you’re passionate about bird dogs and conservation-minded hunting, this one’s for you.

Bachman Bay Kennels

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In Episode 16 of Bird Camp Radio, we sit down with Shawn Deuel: finish carpenter, feather artist, and lifelong hunter whose passion for birds has shaped nearly every chapter of his life. From his early days on Long Island working English-driven pheasant shoots and guiding waterfowl hunts, to his current home in Spearfish, South Dakota, Shawn’s journey reflects a deep respect for tradition, dogs, and wild places.

Shawn opens up about the evolution of his hunting identity, from waterfowl addict to dedicated upland hunter drawn to the explosive flush and heart-pounding chase across the prairie. He shares stories of hunting sharptails, Huns, prairie chickens, pheasants, and ruffed grouse often solo, with only his dogs Rudd and Royal by his side.

The conversation also explores how his time in the field influences his creative feather art, his appreciation for craftsmanship, and his broader pursuit of wild game from elk and mule deer in the fall to bluefin tuna off the Long Island coast in summer. This episode is a thoughtful look at a life built around hard-earned skills, intentional solitude, and the pull of birds on the wing.

For Episode 15 of Bird Camp Radio, I sit down with Bret Wonnacott, a lifelong bird hunter, dog man, competitor, and storyteller whose roots in the outdoors run deep in northern Utah. From the moment he first saw a bird dog lock up on point as a kid, Bret knew this lifestyle was for him and he’s been chasing that passion ever since through bird dogs, bird hunting, waterfowling, and competition.

Bret shares his experience competing at the highest levels of NSTRA trials with his English setters, training dogs to multiple championships, and mentoring first-time handlers who are just getting started. We also dive into his impressive career as a champion duck caller, including multiple state and regional titles and eight appearances at the World Duck Calling Championship in Stuttgart, Arkansas.

More recently, Bret has found a new creative outlet through writing, blending his love for the outdoors with storytelling. We talk about what inspired his 1950s-era fiction novel A Millionaire’s Dream, how his writing journey began, and what he’s working toward next. Along the way, we cover his involvement with the Utah Chukar and Wildlife Foundation, his work with FFA programs, and his role in educating others about bird dogs, conservation, and hunting’s place in wildlife management. This episode is packed with insight, experience, and genuine passion for the bird dog lifestyle.

https://bretwonnacott.com/

http://www.utahchukars.org/

https://ksloutdoors.com/tag/bret-wonnacott/

In this episode of Bird Camp Radio, I sit down with Matthew Sudol, a lifelong grouse and woodcock hunter whose connection to upland birds runs three generations deep. Raised in the coverts by a father and grandfather who still called grouse “partridge,” Matthew learned early how to read the woods, trust a good dog, and respect wild birds that don’t give anything easily.

Matthew’s journey blends tradition with science. While studying Wildlife Management, he gained hands-on experience trapping, banding, aging, and radio-tracking grouse deepening his understanding of the birds he already loved to chase. That knowledge followed him into his career as a wildlife biologist with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, where surveying old farm properties in the Catskills revealed some of the finest grouse and woodcock habitat in the region.

We talk about Matthew’s unconventional path into bird dogs, starting with a cast-off German Shorthaired Pointer that taught him patience and problem-solving. Over time, he became known for working with dogs others struggled with rehabilitating, restarting, and shaping them through bird contact and humility. His legendary dog, Jett, trained almost entirely on wild birds, became the kind of woods dog most of us spend a lifetime chasing.

The conversation also explores guiding, breeding, balancing night-shift law enforcement with daylight in the bird woods, and raising three sons in the traditions of bird hunting, conservation, and dog work. At its heart, this episode is about learning through birds, dogs, failures, friendships, and time spent covering ground where grouse still drum.

In this episode of Bird Camp Radio, we sit down with southwestern Virginia outdoorsman Kenneth Adkins to trace a hunting journey that eventually led him from whitetails to the uplands and into a deeper, more intentional way of hunting.

Kenneth grew up in the Virginia woods, following his father, grandfather, and uncles at a time when simply seeing a deer was a victory. Small game, rabbits and squirrels shaped his early seasons and taught him the value of time afield long before numbers or limits mattered. Though deer hunting became his primary focus for decades, a simple realization changed everything: he wasn’t just a hunter, he was a deer hunter.

That moment pushed Kenneth toward upland birds and bird dogs. With little experience but a lot of commitment, he chose a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and hit the road for a 22-hour trip that would change how he hunted forever. Nearly five years later, that dog Marley has accounted for over 400 birds taken over her points and has become the heart of Kenneth’s upland seasons.

We talk about building a dog from the ground up, hunting modest upland opportunities in the Appalachians, making the most of limited grouse and woodcock covers, and supplementing wild bird hunting with pen-raised birds. Kenneth also shares his growing kennel, including a young German Shorthaired Pointer and a hard-charging retriever that proves there’s always room for another good dog in bird camp.

Woven throughout the conversation is a deep appreciation for fine shotguns, especially double guns, and how craftsmanship, tradition, and intention elevate the upland experience.

This episode is a thoughtful look at slowing down, following dogs, and rediscovering why upland hunting means more than just pulling the trigger, it’s about the journey, the dogs at your side, and the places that keep calling you back.

In this episode of Bird Camp Radio, we sit down with Andrew Terry; a lifelong upland hunter, dog man, and guide whose roots run deep in California’s Sacramento Valley. Raised by a grandfather who hunted during the Great Depression, Andrew learned early that hunting was never about excess, but about respect for the land, the bird, and the responsibility that comes with pulling the trigger.

What began as chasing quail and pheasants behind a duck dog grew into a life built around upland birds. Today, Andrew breeds and trains working gun dogs and guides both upland and waterfowl hunts, turning a deeply ingrained lifestyle into meaningful work.

After relocating to the west side of Oregon’s Cascade Range, Andrew found himself immersed in some of the finest grouse cover in the region. Living where he hunts has given him an intimate understanding of bird behavior, daily movement, and seasonal patterns, knowledge earned only through time, miles, and repetition. Alongside grouse, he stays rooted in the uplands pursuing mountain quail and band-tailed pigeons throughout the year.

This conversation explores tradition, dog work, Woodsmanship, and the responsibility of carrying hunting values forward. It’s an episode grounded in experience, shaped by time afield, and centered on the birds that continue to define Andrew’s life and livelihood.